Actor Robert Downey Jr. once said, “Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay there.” It’s a quote that resonates deeply with the CEO of Spofford Enterprises, Eric Spofford. As a recovered drug addict and reformed criminal who has gone on to become a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, Eric Spofford not only believes deeply in second chances, but he’s also a keen advocate of living his life with no regrets.
“Everything that has ever happened to you–the good, the bad, and the ugly–all conspire to make you the individual you are,” explained Eric Spofford. “That’s why I believe you should never regret anything. There is something to learn from every experience, trial, and tribulation. As the old Chinese proverb goes, ‘He who learns from their mistakes is a fool for a day; he who never learns is a fool for a lifetime.’ I’m nowhere near the same person I once was, but I don’t think I would be the person I am today if I hadn’t endured and experienced what I did. It’s a metamorphosis that I feel I had to go through to get where I am today, a bit like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, if that makes sense. How could I ever regret that?”
If there’s one thing that defines Eric Spofford’s career to date, it’s the enthusiasm and gusto with which he throws himself into new projects. It is the definite calling sign of a man reborn, especially as he’s also renowned for his charity work with addicts and their families. Moreover, he is also responsible for founding one of the largest addiction centers on the east coast of America.
Eric Spofford explained, “Addiction is a monster. But when you go to war with that monster and win, you’ll eventually realize how that particular struggle helped put the fire in your belly and the steel in your resolve and made you a person of character. I think it was J.K. Rowling who said, ‘Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.’ That’s a spot-on assessment of how an addict can use their addiction to their advantage. Speaking from personal experience, I know just how addiction was a road to ruin. But on the road to recovery, it blessed me with an inner strength and formidable sense of resilience I didn’t realize I had, and so, definitely I have no regrets. Life is a journey with many bends, but the trick is to stay on the road and keep on marching forward.”